Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The prevalence of obesity in Chinese adults increased from 1991 to 2000; however, recent changes in this trend are unclear. This study aims to estimate the current prevalence of obesity and to assess trends in obesity and BMI distribution in Chinese adults from 1991 through 2011.

METHODS:

Height and weight measurements of 12,249 Chinese adults from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed (in 2013) together with China Health and Nutrition Survey data for 1991-2009. Obesity was defined as BMI≥28.0 kg/m(2) based on the Working Group on Obesity in China criteria.

RESULTS:

In the 2011 survey, the age-adjusted mean BMI was 23.8 (95% CI=23.7, 23.9) for men and 23.4 (95% CI=23.2, 23.5) for women. The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 11.3% (95% CI=10.8%, 11.9%) overall, 11.8% (95% CI=10.8%, 12.6%) among men, and 11.0% (95% CI=10.3%, 11.8%) among women. Estimates of age-adjusted obesity prevalence among the Chinese population were significantly lower than those of the U.S. population (all p<0.05). Over the 20-year period, the prevalence of obesity increased from 2.88% to 11.8% among men (age-adjusted annual change in OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.07, 1.09, p<0.001) and from 4.55% to 11.0% among women (OR=1.05, 95% CI=1.05, 1.06, p<0.001). Similar significant findings were observed for both men and women based on WHO recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of obesity among both Chinese men and women increased significantly from 1991 through 2011, particularly among men.

Age-adjusted prevalence of obesity and overweight in men and women in 20-, 30- and 40-year old age groups over the period of 1991–2000, 2000–2011, and 1991–2011 according to the criteria suggested by the Working Group on Obesity in China.

Comparison of the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity and overweight between Chinese (The China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2011) and the U.S. population (The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2011‒2012), as well as the OR of obesity and overweight status of Chinese to the U.S. *p<0.05.